On display will be the company’s latest technological contributions aimed at promoting knitted applications in the field of technical textiles, designed and produced on SHIMA SEIKI’s lineup of advanced computer design systems and computerized flat knitting machines. Knitting offers great potential for technical textiles with its inherent characteristics; stretch and compression. Flat knitting provides further potential as the only textile production method that can shape fabric on the machine. To this end, SHIMA SEIKI's new SVR123SP flat knitting machine features an extra loop presser bed for a wider range of knitting techniques including inlay, which has gained particular attention in knitted technical textiles with its capability to produce a hybrid knit-weave pattern by inserting yarn into existing knit fabric in a weave fashion. Inlay can be used to control stretch characteristics of knitted fabrics, and since new materials such as metallic and monofilament yarns can be used, new applications in industrial textiles are realized.

WHOLEGARMENT® knitting by SHIMA SEIKI maximizes the benefits of shaped knitting even further by expanding that potential to 3 dimensions. WHOLEGARMENT® knitting is capable of producing knitted items in their entirety on the machine, and allows 3D forms and tubing to be produced without sewing. The seam-free nature also ensures continuity of yarn, allowing functional yarns such as conductive yarns to wrap around the entire body for applications in smart garments and wearable technology. The aforementioned inlay technique for increased potential in technical applications is available with WHOLEGARMENT® knitting as well. Demonstrating the latest in WHOLEGARMENT® knitting technology at Techtextil will be the flagship MACH2XS machine that features the company’s original SlideNeedle™ on 4 needle beds and patented spring-loaded full-time sinker system. Capable of WHOLEGARMENT® knitting in all-needles, MACH2XS offers great flexibility for knitting high-quality WHOLEGARMENT® products with a seemingly endless variety of knit patterns at very high speed and efficiency, all while minimizing dependence upon labor-intensive sewing and linking.

The latest version of SHIMA SEIKI’s SDS-ONE APEX3 3D design system will also be available for demonstrations in design and simulation of various technical textiles. Of particular interest is its ultra-realistic simulation capability that realizes Virtual Sampling. When countless variations must be evaluated before arriving at a final design, virtual product samples can be used to streamline the decision-making process by minimizing the enormous amount of time and cost normally associated with producing actual samples for each variation.